epäoikeudenmukaisina

Epäoikeudenmukaisina is the plural essive form of the Finnish adjective epäoikeudenmukainen, meaning "unfair" or "unjust." In Finnish grammar the essive case expresses a temporary state or role, and the plural form epäoikeudenmukaisina describes several subjects as being in the state of unfairness or as "unfair ones."

The term is common in legal, political, and social discourse when procedures, decisions, or actions are criticized for lacking fairness. It is used predicatively, for example Päätös nähtiin epäoikeudenmukaisena, or with plural subjects: Päätökset nähtiin epäoikeudenmukaisina. It can also occur in passive constructions: Henkilöt pidettiin epäoikeudenmukaisina.

Word formation notes: epä- is a negation prefix; oikeudenmukainen means "fair" or "just." Adding -aisena/-aisina yields the essive form. The singular form is epäoikeudenmukaisena; the plural is epäoikeudenmukaisina. The word typically refers to perceived unfairness in actions, rules, or processes rather than to permanent traits.

See also: oikeudenmukaisuus (fairness), epäoikeudenmukaisuus (unfairness), and discussions of fairness in law and ethics.